Never shy of a challenge, the Bach Akademie Australia, directed by Madeleine Easton, presents J S Bach’s Christmas Oratorio in a single monumental performance. The six cantatas which comprise this ‘oratorio’ were conceived as one piece but were performed individually in church services over several days, premiering on Christmas Day in 1734 and ending at Epiphany on 6 January 1735.

The BAA’s historically informed rendition is performed by an expert and neatly balanced ensemble of 13 singers and 23 period instrumentalists comprising luxury casting of two keyboards and a treasury of strings, brass and woodwind, including oboes d’amore and oboes da caccia, not forgetting the indispensable timpani.

Together, the cantatas trace the story of the nativity. The first three cantatas are symmetrically constructed and performed on consecutive days, from the birth of Jesus in Part I, the annunciation to the shepherds in Part II on 26 December and the adoration of the shepherds in Part III on 27 December.

Part IV is performed on New Year’s Day, commemorating the naming of Jesus, Part V on the first Sunday after New Year describing the journey of the Magi and Part VI, recounting the adoration of the Magi.

Today, the traditions of the Christmas Oratorio...